It all started by saying yes

Kieran from Fife took part in a David Hume Institute community conversation in November 2020 when he was 14.  He tells us in his own words why we should all listen to young people as equals.

“It started three years ago with saying yes.  I said yes to the chance to be outdoors for two lessons a week at school in a local wood.  Since then I have planted trees and learnt loads and I’ll soon have a qualification in countryside skills.

Being outdoors really helped me and I loved it, so I got involved more at weekends out of school hours.

Last year when the chance came to be involved in a conversation about our area, I said yes again.  I jumped at it.  I was nervous but my teacher and my mum encouraged me.

I didn’t know what it was going to be like, but I care about my local area so wanted to be involved. Too often young people are only asked about things people think are young people things, like school.  Young people get used to not being listened to about community issues so I think that is why more people from my school didn’t say yes to being involved.

The conversation with the David Hume Institute was different.  It was led by Ruth from the Roots programme and there were all sorts of people there.  People in professional roles alongside all different people from the community, including my school bus driver.

Ruth made it clear at the start that we were all there as individuals and all equal.  Some of the older people weren’t as good with technology as me and I could see they were nervous too. Being on Zoom was really good as we were all the same – and Ruth encouraged everyone to speak.  She was strict in not letting anyone dominate the conversation too, everyone got heard not just the loudest voices.

Parks and greenspace came up a lot, as well as litter.  They are all things I care about and have been volunteering to improve.  Some of the older people have now got involved with a project I volunteer on.

I really enjoyed it.  It was interesting to hear what different people thought, especially when their views were different from mine.  We don’t get enough chance to hear people different from us. 

Too often, children and young people’s voices are collected separately or filtered by adults.  Being able to say what I thought and being listened too as an equal should be everyone’s right.  It shouldn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what age you are.

I enjoyed the conversation so much I have now got involved giving my opinion in other places.  Being heard is powerful and I want more people, no matter what age they are, to experience it.”

Be brave and say yes to being involved. Join Kieran and tell us what you think at WhatsYourAction.scot.